The Corvette Courier

The Corvette Courier
February 2015
Page 17
Editors note: This month we continue coverage of historical Corvette racers with a story on the 1962
Gulf One Corvette and the 1963 Gulf One Z06 Sting Ray. Of course this ties in with the CCA Dick
Thompson Award which was presented to Stephen Catlin last month at our Annual Winter Awards
Dinner. Thanks to Van Vander Haar for locating this article.
Gulf Oil ’62 Corvette Racer “The Most Successful C1 Racer?”
Million Dollar Classic Corvette Racers – Intro to Part One and Two.
Race cars, for all their glory, often times are quickly forgotten as a result of faster, more modern, more
outrageous race cars. Corvettes are just the same. By the end of the first generation of live-axle Corvettes, Chevrolet’s fiberglass sports car had become a solid competitor in sports car racing. When the
C2 ‘63 Z06 Corvette Sting Ray racers were unleashed, there was a mad dash to the new independent
suspension car. The Fuelie Sting Rays yielded to the big-block Vettes, and the adventure just rolled
on.
62 and 63 Gulf One Racing Glory
But in the process, two of the winningest Corvette racers faded into racing history – the ‘62 Gulf One
Corvette and the ‘63 Gulf One Z06 Sting Ray. Their racing glory came thundering back into the limelight in August ‘08 and January ‘09 when both cars were auctioned off for well over $1 Million dollars at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance and the Mecum Muscle Cars & More auctions. Sure,
there have been lots of cars to sell for much more than a million dollars at auction. But anytime a car
goes for over the magical $1 Million mark, it’s an event.
Where are the Old War Horses?
When we look at race cars from the early ‘60s, they are amazingly stock. Racers bought new Corvettes optioned out with all of the racer goodies Zora Arkus-Duntov offered, took their new cars back
to their shops, and added racing safety gear, and some minor performance enhancements. After the
teams finished the season, many were sold off as used up, old racers, or converted back to street Corvettes and sold. Who knew that two used racers, would someday sell for over a million dollars. Many
a race car owner from those early years wish they had held on to their old war horses.
Gulf One Racers Part One and Part Two
The Gulf Oil ‘62 and ‘63 Corvettes are arguably two of the winningest Corvette racers of all time. Part
1 looks back at the Gulf One Grady Davis ‘62 Fuelie Corvette. In Part II we have a look back at the
Davis ‘63 Z06 Sting Ray. In their day, these cars had first-class racing preparation. Today they have
been beautifully restored. Driver Dick “The Flying Dentist” commented at the auction of the ‘63 car,
“It sure looks a lot better than when I was racing.”
Lets take a blast into Corvette racing past…
Part One
Illustrated Corvette Series No. 153 – Gulf Oil ’62 Corvette Racer “The Most Successful C1 Racer?”
The Corvette Courier
February 2015
Page 18
Here’s the story…
Successful Racer
After years of watching limited-production high-performance Corvettes sell at auction for hundreds of
thousands of dollars, we’re now seeing old Corvette race cars take off where the exotic street Vettes
peaked.
Last month, we talked about the Grady Davis ’63 Z06 racer that sold for $1,113,000. As amazing as
that figure was, sellers were expecting more, in part because the Gulf Oil ’62 featured here had gone
for $1,485,000 a few months earlier.
While low-volume performance vehicles can be quite distinctive, there’s nothing like the one-of-a-
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February 2015
Page 19
kind status of a successful race car.
85.7 Percent Win Rate
While the Gulf Oil ’62 doesn’t have the high profile of many other racing Vettes, it is arguably the
most successful single Corvette race car ever. In 1962, the car competed in the SCCA’s A/Production
class with Dr. Dick Thompson behind the wheel and won 12 out of 14 races-an 85.7 percent win rate.
We’re not slighting the success of the C5-R or C6.R Corvettes. Corvette Racing’s best season was actually 2004, with a 100 percent win rate, but those victories were achieved by a two-car team, with
each car winning five races.
Prepped by Don Yenko’s Team
It’s amazing how close this car is to a street Corvette. When Gulf Oil executive Grady Davis ordered
it, he specified four options that formed the foundation for a competitive racer. RPO 582 got him the
327/360hp fuelie engine, while RPO 685 added a Borg-Warner T-10 four-speed transmission. RPO
687 added the heavy-duty (racing) brakes and special steering, and RPO 675 brought a Positraction
rear.
The total cost for a car such as this was around $5,300-a lot of money in ’62. After the car was assembled in St. Louis, it was driven to Yenko Chevrolet for race prep. It was quite common back then for
cars such as this to be picked up at the factory and then driven to an owner’s shop. Don Yenko’s team
was experienced in turning Corvettes into race cars, so the car was well prepared. Almost all of the
prep work was bolted on and easily removable, as we’ll see later.
Off to the Races
Davis’ Corvette got the standard prep treatment. The front and rear bumpers were removed, and vents
and a deflector were added to the hood. A 37-gallon fuel tank was added, and the rear glass was modified to accommodate a quick-fill gas cap. Plexiglas replaced the side windows, and an aluminum racing seat was installed in place of the stock bucket. A full complement of Stewart-Warner gauges were
added, along with a Motorola two-way radio. A roll bar was installed, and the interior carpeting was
replaced with rubber mats.
Chromed-steel lift bars were added to the front and rear to assist in pit stops. The engine was essentially stock, with the factory cast-iron exhaust manifolds connected to 2-1/4-in exhaust pipes that exited just ahead of the rear wheels. Koni shocks were used, and Goodyear Blue Streak 7.00-15 tires
were mounted on the stock steel wheels. FIA-required marker lights were added to the roof and passenger side, and the stock Ermine White body was treated to a blue racing stripe that ran over the center of the car, from front to back. The side coves were painted with the same blue paint. From there, it
was off to the races.
Winning Record
At its first race, at Daytona in January, the Gulf Oil Corvette came in Second. The next month, the car
took First Place at the Daytona Continental. In March, the team took another First Place win at Se-
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February 2015
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bring.
At the Washington Marlboro Governor’s race, the car did not finish. Then, from the Virginia International President’s Cup race in April to the final race of the season at the Watkins Glen Grand Prix, the
Gulf Oil ’62 fuelie won every time to take the A/Production Championship.
Restored to its Former Glory
With the arrival of the much-improved C2 Corvette, Davis sold his champion ’62 fuelie to Tony Denman in favor of a new Z06. But the ’62 was still potent enough to take the pole position at Daytona in
January of 1963. Denman raced the car a few times, then converted it back to a street car and sold it as
a big-brake ’62 fuelie. For the next 16 years, the car’s owners didn’t have a clue that they were driving
a former A/Production champion.
That is, until Reverend Mike Ernst bought the Vette off of a used-car lot for $3,500 in 1979. Ernst noticed a few unusual things about the car, researched its past, and discovered what he’d purchased. Fortunately for Ernst, Tony Denman had saved most of the race-car parts, and he was willing to sell them
so Ernst could restore the car to its former glory.
Sold for $1,485,000
Since then, the car has had several owners and a few restorations. In August 2008, at the Pebble Beach
Concours d’Elegance, the Gulf Oil ’62 Corvette sold for $1,485,000. It’s worth noting that Davis actually purchased two identical Corvettes in 1962 and raced both. The second car was not as successful,
but, like its more famous sibling, it was ultimately converted back to a street Vette. So where is that
car today? No one knows. – KST
Million Dollar Classic Corvette Racers – Intro to Part Two.
Corvette 1963 Gulf One Z06 Racer
ICS 152 by K. Scott Teeters
By the end of the first generation of live-axle Corvettes, Chevrolet’s fiberglass sports car had become
a solid competitor in sports car racing. Race cars, for all their glory, often times are quickly forgotten
as a result of faster, more modern, more outrageous race cars. Corvettes are just the same. When the
C2 ‘63 Z06 Corvette Sting Ray racers were unleashed, there was a mad dash to the new independent
suspension car. The Fuelie Sting Rays yielded to the big-block Vettes, and the adventure just rolled
on.
62 and 63 Gulf One Racers
Two of the winningest Corvette racers faded into racing history in the process – the ‘62 Gulf One Corvette and the ‘63 Gulf One Z06 Sting Ray.
In August ‘08 and January ‘09 when both cars were auctioned off for well over $1 Million dollars at
the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance and the Mecum Muscle Cars & More auctions, their racing
The Corvette Courier
February 2015
Page 21
glory came thundering back into the limelight. Sure, there have been lots of cars to sell for much more
than a million dollars at auction. Anytime a car goes for over the magical $1 Million mark, it’s an
event.
Where did the Old War Horses go?
When we look at race cars from the early ‘60s, they are amazingly stock. Racers bought new Corvettes optioned out with all of the racer goodies Zora Arkus-Duntov offered, took their new cars back
to their shops, and added racing safety gear, and some minor performance enhancements. After the
teams finished the season, many were sold off as used up, old racers, or converted back to street Corvettes and sold. Who knew that two used racers, would someday sell for over a million dollars. Many
a race car owner from those early years wish they had held on to their old war horses.
Gulf One Racers Part Two
The Gulf Oil ‘62 and ‘63 Corvettes are arguably two of the winningest Corvette racers of all time. In
Part 1 we looked back at the Gulf One Grady Davis ‘62 Fuelie Corvette. In Part II we have a look
back at the Davis ‘63 Z06 Sting Ray. In their day, these cars had first-class racing preparation. Today
they have been beautifully restored. Driver Dick “The Flying Dentist” commented at the auction of
the ‘63 car, “It sure looks a lot better than when I was racing.”
Lets take a blast into Corvette racing past…
Part Two
Here’s the story:
Illustrated Corvette Series No. 152 1963 Gulf One Z06 Corvette “‘The $1.113 Million Sting Ray”
It’s an Exciting Thing
If you’re ever in the mood for some cheap fun, go to an automotive auction. The auctioneer’s singsong delivery is designed to get the audience excited, and it works. At these events, it’s not the cars
that get revved up; it’s the crowd. In January 2009, attendees of the Mecum Muscle Cars & More
Auction got to witness the historic ‘63 “Gulf One” racing Z06 Corvette sell for $1.113 million. While
that’s not the highest price ever paid for a Corvette at auction, it was more than enough to drive the
audience wild. After all, any time a 46-year-old car that cost approximately $5,975 new sells for over
a million dollars, it’s an exciting thing. (You can watch an 8-minute video of the auction on YouTube).
In addition to the sale, there were three surprises that came out of the auction itself.
The first came in the form of the man who probably spent more time behind the wheel of the car than
any other driver, 88-year-old Dr. Dick “The Flying Dentist” Thompson. Thompson is a man of few
words, and when asked about his time with Gulf One, he simply said, “I enjoyed driving this car very
much. It sure looks a lot better now than when I was racing. A little work’s been done on it. I had
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February 2015
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hoped to drive this car at Le Mans, but it didn’t work out that way. It would have done real well, I
think. It was a great car to drive.”
Pardon us, Dr. Thompson, but did you say, “Le Mans”? That was the second big surprise. Z06 authority Eric Gill presented a newly discovered internal Chevrolet document indicating that the Gulf One
Z06 was slated to be raced at the French event in 1963. In the end GM decided to enforce its ban on
racing, killing the trip.
ICS II 152 63 Gulf One Racer
The last surprise was the car’s selling price. While the reserve was met, the owners were hoping for
much more. After all, in August 2008 the Gulf One No. 2 ’62 racer sold at auction for a whopping
$1.485 million. Still, the ‘63 Gulf One car was the first ’63 Z06 to sell for over $1 million. And considering that the seller bought the car in August ‘04 for $467,000, I’d say he made out okay.
‘63 Z06 option was a “racer kit”
Let’s have a look at what made this car so special. The ‘63 Z06 option was a “racer kit” and was never
intended to be used on the street. But like the L88 kits from 1967 to 1969, I’m sure a few of these cars
were used mainly as street drivers. Of the 199 Z06s built in 1963, only 124 had the radio/defroster delete option, and only 63 had the oversized 36-gallon fuel tank. Then there was the issue of price. The
base price of a ‘63 coupe was $4,257. The Z06 option added $1,818, bringing the total to $6, 075. By
comparison a ’63 SS Impala could be purchased for around $3,200. Later in 1963, it was discovered
that the Z06’s new cast-aluminum knockoff wheels were having problems holding tire pressure. They
were removed from the package, lowering the option’s price to $1,293.
Corvette chief engineer Zora Arkus-Duntov designed the Z06 package to take advantage of the Sting
Ray’s new chassis and four-wheel independent suspension. The option provided a platform upon
which a racer could, with good preparation, have a competitive Corvette race car. It included the
360hp L84 “Fuelie” 327 engine, an M-20 four-speed transmission, higher-rate front and rear springs,
heavy-duty shocks and stabilizer bars, a 36-gallon fuel tank, and finned aluminum knock-off wheels.
Most elaborate was the braking system, which included finned aluminum drums, internal cooling fans,
vented back plates, cerametallic linings, and a dual-circuit master cylinder.
The new Sting Ray with its racer kit was supposed to keep the Corvette in the winner’s circle the way
it had been for the three previous years. But there was a problem in the form of the Shelby Cobras. In
retrospect, the two cars should never have been in the same class, given the Cobra’s 1,000-pound
weight advantage.
Despite creditable performances in SCCA A/Production racing by the Grady Davis–campaigned Gulf
One Corvette and others, the Cobras stole the Sting Rays’ thunder. But Duntov knew how to take care
of his best racers. Of the 14 Z06 cars assigned by Duntov to be loaned to select teams, Davis received
two.
Thompson went on to score wins
The Gulf One car illustrated here saw more track action than any of the other “assigned” Z06s. The
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February 2015
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car’s first outing was at the 1963 Puerto Rico Grand Prix, where Thompson drove it to its first class
win. In January 1963 it won at the Refrigerator Bowl in Marlboro, Maryland. The car was then prepared for FIA rules, to race at the Daytona Continental and Sebring. Thompson drove it to Third overall and First in GT3 at Daytona, but the transmission broke at the Sebring race in March. Thompson
went on to score wins at the SCCA’s President’s Cup race in Marlboro; in the A/Production class at
Danville, Virginia; and at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.
Like most race cars, the Gulf One ’63 was bought and sold many times. Interest in the ‘63 Z06s was
pretty much gone until the moniker came back in 2001. Today, the Gulf One ‘63 takes its place in the
survivors’ club of Corvette-racing history. – KST
Mecum Auctions calls "Gulf One" the most desirable 1963 Corvette Z06 of them all! Delivered from
Yenko Chevrolet to Gulf Oil's Grady Davis in October 1962, this Corvette Z06 was race prepared and
rushed down to the Puerto Rico Grand Prix where it scored its first class win. With the "Flying Dentist" Dr. Dick Thompson at the wheel, the Gulf Oil sponsored Z06 became the most successful factory
-backed production racing Corvette of the C2 era.
From: http://www.sportscardigest.com/le-mans-corvette-1960-car-profile/
The Corvette Courier
February 2015
Annual Awards Dinner
January 24th 2015
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2009 Calloway Corvette
24,000 Miles
$49,990.
CALLAWAY CHROME SUPERCHARGER 580hp Corvette C6. Metallic Cyber gray with contrasting buff aluminum-tone hood and wheels. What a flying dragon - photo finish with a ZR1 or
anything in this Exotic Class! Runs great, a real head turner on any street. 2nd roof tinted OEM (see
last pix) available; set of Nitto racing tires (used once) mounted on OEM wheels available. Upgraded interior red leather matches C6 logo. Front grille (OEM) interior-installed. All Callaway upgrades: listed on original sticker, e.g., incredible SHORT THROW stick, CALLAWAY WHEELS
w/ Michelins (5k mi. - in excellent cond.), and the full fabulous engine, brakes and Callaway amenities! The Callaway upgrade in 2009 added $20k+ to new-car price. Only 'Vette on the street this fast
at this price. Accident-free, always garaged, babied. This is a Jewel!
Email Vince at: [email protected]
The Corvette Courier
February 2015
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Wanted
CCA Member Phil Canal is looking for secure storage space in the Olney,
Maryland area for his antique Lincoln show car. If you can help him out or
have a suggestion, please contact him at 301-774-8069.
The Corvette Courier
February 2015
Page 33
The Corvette Club of America is
proud to be exclusively associated
with Sport Chevrolet.
… Be a Sport fan too!!
3101 Automobile Blvd
Silver Spring, Md 20904
www.sportchevrolet.com
Our contact at Sport Chevrolet for a new or used car is Lee Shirley, 240-560-5363 or email him at
[email protected]. Be sure to let Lee know that you are a CCA member.
The Corvette Club of America, Inc was founded by John Ralph and Charles Eyre who organized the first
club meeting on July 17, 1956 at a Chevrolet dealership in Arlington, Virginia. At that time the club charter was formulated and a tentative club name, ‘Capital Corvette Club’ was considered. At a subsequent
meeting in September 1956, however, the club name was changed to the Corvette Club of America since
it was the intent of the members to make the club a national organization.
In the months that followed, the Corvette Club of
America took the first steps toward forming a national organization by laying the ground work for
the National Council of Corvette Clubs, a group
which now includes 275 clubs with more than
17,500 members. Today the NCCC is the largest
non-profit, all volunteer Corvette organization in
the United States. The Corvette Club of America is
a proud member of the East Region of the NCCC.
As one of the founding clubs of the National
Council of Corvette Clubs, the CCA is honored to
have been assigned club number 1 in the organization.
Through the years the CCA has seen many fine
members come and go; however, one thing remains unchanged. The membership is composed
of individuals both male and female, young and
old, that share a common interest - The Corvette!
President
Vice President
Secretary
Treasurer
NCCC Governor
Membership Director
Competition Director
Parliamentarian
Jim Parisi
Rich Taylor
Paul Vale
Nita Armstrong
Jay Srivatsan
Jean Wade
Steve Catlin
Jon Thorn
(410)292-8722
(240)460-9797
(301)570-9348
(443)852-1922
(719)251-9403
(301)253-6074
(703)220-1136
(301)963-4864
Non-Board Member Positions
NCM Ambassador
Vendor & Club Relations
Webmaster
Courier Editor
Terry Popkin
(301)949-2464
Van Vander Haar (410)489-5002
Rick Roe
(410)960-1368
Jon Thorn
(301)963-4864
The Corvette Courier is published monthly by the Corvette Club of America, Inc.
P.O. Box 3355, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20885
The Corvette Courier
CCA Monthly Meeting Locations
Business & Membership Meeting Location:
Golden Bull Grand Café
7 Dalamar Street
Gaithersburg, MD 20877
(301) 948-3666
Second Tuesday of
each month at 7:30 PM
Next meeting:
February 10th
Shop Night Location:
Sport Chevrolet
3101 Automobile Blvd.
Silver Spring, Maryland
20904
Fourth Tuesday of each
month at 6:30 PM**
(** Shop Night is the
THIRD Tuesday in
November and
December due
to Holidays)
Next Shop Night:
February 24th
February 2015
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Tony Avedisian, Owner
7500 Rickenbacker Drive
Gaithersburg, MD 20879
301-987-0565
http://www.tonyscorvetteshop.com
Since 1976, Radial Tire Company has provided the Washington D.C. area with quality tires and
the finest service. We have earned a reputation as the premier specialist in hard-to-find performance tire and wheel applications. We stock tires from all of the top manufacturers for
whatever you drive, from small economy cars to SUVs and trucks. Our mission is to assist you
in getting the most out of your tires and car.
9101 Brookville Rd
Silver Spring, MD 20910
301-585-2740
http://www.radialtirecompany.com
Contact CCA Tag Leader
Richard Roe
410-960-1368
[email protected]